As always, it is important to note that the Asian-American community is far from being a homogenous group. This term applies to the work of theatre artists that have Asian ancestry. Artists like David Henry Hwang, Ping Chong, BD Wong and Brenda Wong Aoki have worked to produce and perform plays that touch on what it means to be an Asian-American while also utilizing traditionally Asian theatrical techniques. Like other minority groups, Asian-Americans have suffered from being stereotyped or excluded all together from mainstream Western entertainment. During WWII, Japanese-Americans were forced into internment camps and as a result were practically banished from the mainstream. Post WWII, productions like the King and I, Mikado, and The First Born contained Asian themes but often excluded Asian actors from playing lead roles. Moreover, Asian actors were few and far between due to factors like language barriers and overall differences between Western and Asian drama. It really wasn't until the 1960s when Asian artists began to write their own shows. The clearest example of this occurred with the East West Players in LA. This group began staging traditional Asian works. Eventually, this group inspired the creation of sister ensembles. These ensembles pushed the agenda and performed original works that focused on the Asian-American experience in the US. This trend continued into the 1970s with the creation of groups like the Pan Asian Repertory Theatre. This resulted in career boosts for several Asian-American actors. Many themes included the internment of Japanese Americans, and generational differences between Asian parents and their children. Since then, other playwrights like David Henry Hwang have crossed into the mainstream and pushed the agenda to promote better inclusion and representation of Asian-Americans in mainstream entertainment. One of the biggest issues that has affected the community in all forms of entertainment is the issue of whitewashing traditionally Asian roles.
As always, it is important to note that the Asian-American community is far from being a homogenous group. This term applies to the work of theatre artists that have Asian ancestry. Artists like David Henry Hwang, Ping Chong, BD Wong and Brenda Wong Aoki have worked to produce and perform plays that touch on what it means to be an Asian-American while also utilizing traditionally Asian theatrical techniques. Like other minority groups, Asian-Americans have suffered from being stereotyped or excluded all together from mainstream Western entertainment. During WWII, Japanese-Americans were forced into internment camps and as a result were practically banished from the mainstream. Post WWII, productions like the King and I, Mikado, and The First Born contained Asian themes but often excluded Asian actors from playing lead roles. Moreover, Asian actors were few and far between due to factors like language barriers and overall differences between Western and Asian drama. It really wasn't until the 1960s when Asian artists began to write their own shows. The clearest example of this occurred with the East West Players in LA. This group began staging traditional Asian works. Eventually, this group inspired the creation of sister ensembles. These ensembles pushed the agenda and performed original works that focused on the Asian-American experience in the US. This trend continued into the 1970s with the creation of groups like the Pan Asian Repertory Theatre. This resulted in career boosts for several Asian-American actors. Many themes included the internment of Japanese Americans, and generational differences between Asian parents and their children. Since then, other playwrights like David Henry Hwang have crossed into the mainstream and pushed the agenda to promote better inclusion and representation of Asian-Americans in mainstream entertainment. One of the biggest issues that has affected the community in all forms of entertainment is the issue of whitewashing traditionally Asian roles.